Tag: The Lost Sound

Astonishingly, it has been seventeen years since Steve Knightley’s previous solo album. Mind you, the popularity of Show Of Hands and his low-key solo tours have kept him pretty busy. Now he’s back with a new album, The Winter Yards, and the title will be explained in due course. In support are some familiar names: Phil Beer, Philip Henry, Mark Tucker and Matt Clifford and some new faces in Track Dogs, Johnny Kalsi, True Foxes and The Lost Sound.

Steve describes the album as a new departure for him and, yes, there are changes – developments really – not surprising after all this time. Initially, though it feels as though he has slid into the old familiar groove. The opener, ‘Transactions’, looks at various issues facing the country: immigration, the challenges facing young people and injustice as represented by the Post Office/Horizon scandal. Political with a small p and, as you might expect, a sympathetic point of view.

‘The Ride’, incorporating the album title, is one of those songs that look back on a different life and which Steve is so good at. The subject is a travelling fair and what happens when the season is over and the ride is locked down in the winter yards. How do you make a living when that is all you know? The first departure comes with ‘Maria (Recuerdos), set in the Canaries and featuring Madrid-based band Track Dogs, a spirited, up-tempo song. ‘If You Come Back’ has an old-fashioned blues feel featuring Henry on Dobro and harmonica as the singer pleads for his woman’s return.

‘I Tried’ is a more personal, melancholic song, perhaps a sequel to ‘Are We Alright’ if the answer was “no”. Steve borrowed the tune of ‘The Parting Glass’ for ‘Requiem’, originally written for SoH’s Great War album and sung unaccompanied with backing from The Lost Sound choir – a live recording. ‘I’ll Never Forgive You’ is a lyrically clever song about an unexpected betrayal. If you want to play rock’n’roll with just guitar and percussion this is how to do it. ‘Remember This Kiss’ was co-written with Ross Wilson of Blue Rose Code who also shares lead vocals and, like ‘The Ride’, takes us to another, maybe imaginary, time and place. Matt Clifford’s keyboards make for a full, rich sound.

‘The Mermaid (The Wedding Song)’ is light-hearted romp of a song written for a film that has yet to be released. I wonder if we’ll ever get to see it. From SoH’s back catalogue comes the new recording of ‘Exile’, originally heard on their debut album. As Steve says, it’s still relevant. He describes ‘Red Handed’ as song about obsessive love and as with many of his deeper songs there is a lot to unpick. Clifford’s keyboards and strings provide the rich textures of the accompaniment which Steve decorates on mandocello. Finally, ‘A Song For Wickham’ was commissioned for the Hampshire village and features the voices of the Forest folk club. Steve once lived in nearby Cosham and the song embodies the sense of place that he has brought to so much of his writing.

So Steve Knightly is back. The Winter Yards includes some songs that will immediately grab you and some you will need to spend time with before they fully open up to you – that has always been his way.

Dai Jeffries

Artist’s website: https://steveknightley.com/

‘Requiem’ – live: